Alan Llavore | Office of Marketing and Communications | (909) 537-5007 | allavore@csusb.edu
Though it was more than 25 years ago, Steve Vivian vividly recalls the first time he drove up University Parkway as a teenager. As he crested the hill and took in the sweeping views of Cal State San Bernardino nestled against the mountains, his decision was made.
“I just fell in love with the campus,” he said. “It was beautiful. And the people I met were so warm and welcoming, it felt like they wanted me there.”
Vivian’s first impression has grown into a lifelong relationship with CSUSB. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 2000, currently serves as president of the CSUSB Alumni Association and is a member of the CSUSB Philanthropic Foundation Board, helping shape the university’s future as it celebrates its 60th anniversary.
Vivian’s introduction to the university came at a college night hosted at a neighboring high school. While he considered larger CSU campuses, CSUSB’s smaller class sizes, the then-relatively new Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration and personal connections were all it took for him to choose San Bernardino. “It was just the right fit,” he said. “I wanted a place where I could really engage, and that’s exactly what I found.”
From the beginning, he viewed college as an opportunity to build a full, balanced experience.
“My freshman year, I jumped in headfirst,” he said. “I did new student orientation, joined Delta Sigma Chi co-ed fraternity, got involved with student government and found a job with the university’s Admissions and Records department.”
He also joined the Accounting Association, which helped prepare him for life after graduation.
From CSUSB, Vivian went on to pursue an MBA at the University of Southern California (USC) and experienced the Trojan’s powerful alumni network firsthand, which started his wheels turning. “At USC, there was this beautiful alumni house right on campus where alumni could gather and feel welcome,” he said. “I thought, why don’t we have this at Cal State San Bernardino?”
When he became president of the CSUSB Alumni Association, Vivian was among those who championed the idea of a dedicated space for alumni on the CSUSB campus, pointing to examples at USC and Cal State Long Beach as models.
“For me, it was important that we had a place where alumni could come back, feel welcome, feel connected to the university,” he said. “And not just a physical place, but the resources that come with it. It shows the alumni community that they are valued and that there’s always a place for them here.”
CSUSB’s Alumni Center opened its doors in September 2024, and Vivian continues to support the university’s other initiatives as a member of the CSUSB Philanthropic Foundation Board.
While giving back to CSUSB, Vivian has also built a distinguished career. He began as a CPA, spending nearly a decade in public accounting before moving into the food industry. “I had a client in food manufacturing, and I loved seeing the whole process, products going from the factory line to store shelves,” he said. “That intimacy with the product really stuck with me.”
From Ruiz Foods, makers of El Monterey frozen burritos and taquitos, to Mars Inc. where he worked with brands like M&Ms, Uncle Ben’s and Skittles, Vivian built increasing expertise in finance and leadership. Today, as vice president of finance at Nissin Foods USA (makers of Cup Noodles and Top Ramen), he oversees finance operations across the U.S. while collaborating with teams in Japan and beyond.
What excites him most now, he says, is talent development. “I love mentoring people, helping them grow in their careers,” he said. “That’s where I find the most fulfillment.”
As CSUSB celebrates its 60th anniversary, Vivian sees the milestone as both an opportunity for reflection as well as a call to action. “To me, it means being part of a legacy,” he said. “Each of us adds our own building block to the foundation laid before us. I want my block to strengthen the alumni community and help create opportunities for future students.”
He also views the anniversary as an invitation to the wider community. “We’ve been here for 60 years, educating students who go on to become part of this region. If you haven’t partnered with CSUSB yet, now is the time.”
Vivian highly encourages current students to get involved. “It’s unfortunate when students just go to class and leave,” he said. “You’re leaving so much value on the table. Be engaged, join organizations, make connections. Those relationships will stay with you long after graduation.
“CSUSB shaped who I am,” he said. “And it’s up to all of us, from alumni to students and from faculty to community to keep shaping what it will become in the next 60 years.”